A more present Jon Bernthal
A thought for fans of the actor and the divisive character of the Punisher, reduced to two appearances and one and a half episodes in the first season of Daredevil Born Again. Despite some powerful scenes, such as his face-off with Daredevil or his start of guerrilla warfare with the Task Force, Frank Castle is the big loser of the first nine episodes, and while we can point out here that the main thing was to recreate a framework and a complex situation for Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk and the overall universe of Daredevil, we were hoping for a little more screen time for the taciturn anti-hero.
What is certain is that we will see the Punisher again in season 2, as he will also oppose the Task Force, which completely hijacks his symbol and message for personal gain. Will Frank Castle do it alone or alongside Matt? We'll have to wait and see. As a reminder, Jon Bernthal won't be done with his Punisher character, since a special TV movie featuring him is planned for Marvel Studios, also for the Disney+ platform.
An Uninhibited Daredevil
Matt Murdock has been through all sorts of things this season. Bruised by Foggy's death, which causes him to step back and abandon the Daredevil costume, he is partly responsible for the death of White Tiger, the vigilante he had promised to save, by exposing his secret identity during his trial. However, as time goes on, the lawyer gives way to the vigilante, who frees the Devil sparingly and then without any restraint at the end of the show.
The finale of the first season of Born Again shows us a Daredevil ready to take responsibility, take responsibility, and collaborate, who presents himself to the police force, those who intend to oppose Fisk. Now that the cards are laid, Matt has no more reason to prevent the Devil of Hell's Kitchen from coming out of his box. And for pity's sake, we really hope that he embraces his destiny as a vigilante, without questioning himself every ten minutes, a theme that has been a little too recurrent with the character since the beginning of his adaptation into a series.
The Task Force vs. the Vigilantes
Teased throughout the season, also present in a crescendo in the plot, the Task Force set up by Fisk is officially revealed to the public as such at the end of Born Again. Vigilantes are persona non grata in New York and the sanctions will rain down as well as the attacks against their persons, sanctions administered by this small group of borderline police officers, all hired and subject directly to the authority of Wilson Fisk.
Season 1 ends with the main plot of the Mayor Fisk comics – namely an open hunt for vigilantes by the Task Force – and we hope, unlike the White Tiger case or the Muse dossier, that this arc will not be dealt with, this time, in just two episodes. With the profiles highlighted throughout the season (those of Cole North and Officer Powell), there is plenty to do and we would like to see the atrocities committed by the Task Force repeated, with an additional degree of cynicism and violence, like that slightly too curious journalist, who ends up with a burned hand at the end of episode 8.
A new costume for Daredevil
One of the main problems with Born Again is that filming for season 2 took place while season 1 was airing. As a result, and we'll get back to this very soon, casting announcements have been pouring in, confirming some returns, sometimes quite surprising ones. But the most annoying thing is the set photos that have kindly leaked onto the web.
In itself, what we're about to discuss isn't bad news (not at all), but we would have liked to have had the surprise. Charlie Cox was spotted with a new costume, black, still in reference to the Daredevil comics, flocked with the famous DD in red, recalling his superhero name on the chest. A more comics-accurate outfit that will delight more than one, especially since the black costume had already been partly teased in the series, at the end of episode 4, where we can see Matt opening a room with five different helmets (yellow, gray, black and two red) all either already worn in the MCU (the yellow in She-Hulk, one of the red in Daredevil, the other in Daredevil Born Again) or waiting to be worn.
Karen is back, Foggy too and inevitably, we frown
Season 2 being filmed and the leaks are going well, Marvel has also chosen to (partially) control its communication and to formalize returns for the sequel to Daredevil Born Again, one rather logical, the other downright surprising. Through the voice of Brad Winderbaum, director of the Marvel Television branch and producer of the show, we know that Karen Paige will be back. This is not surprising, since actress Deborah Ann Woll was not really present during season 1, even if we welcome her return in the grand finale. Moreover, we were able to see on the Web photos from the set of the actress with a red wig, a change of look made necessary by the story clearly.
It is the presence of Elden Henson that poses a problem. Yes, because Foggy Nelson, let's remember, is lying in his own blood from the beginning of episode 1, shot by Bullseye under Karen's helpless gaze. Two theories remain: the first would see the character return in the form of flashbacks, filling the gap in his presence in season 1 and thus developing the relationship between Karen and Matt in addition. The second would be based on a Daredevil comic, already partly teased in the form of an easter egg – a building number, 468, corresponding to the famous comic in question – in which Foggy stages his own death.
Which would mean that Foggy, in this scenario, would still be alive and his return would inevitably have consequences on his relationship with Matt, not to mention that he would raise a number of questions behind it: Was Vanessa complicit in this charade? Did Karen know? What was the purpose of the maneuver? And above all, after taking the risk of sending a strong message in the introduction of the series by killing an important character, wouldn't Marvel spoil everything by magically resurrecting Matt's best friend?
Heather Glenn will tear Matt's heart out (again)
Deprived of Karen, who left for San Francisco, and of Foggy, who was shot dead without him being able to intervene, Matt changes his life, leaves Hell's Kitchen and happily meets Heather Glenn, a doctor (psychologist) with whom our lawyer will have a relationship. While everything was going well in the couple, the latter is undermined in the last part of season 1, due to the trauma experienced by Heather following the attack she suffered at the hands of Muse.
At first fascinated by vigilantes and the fact that they wear a mask, the woman in question will radically change, traumatized by having killed Muse, to the point of associating Daredevil with the psychopathic murderer. A doctor of the Fisk couple, she sides with the mayor and adopts his anti-vigilante ideology, without knowing who Matt really is. While this almost happened, from the mouth of Fisk himself in episode 8, it is hard to imagine the relationship between the two characters not deteriorating and the truth not being revealed. To the point of no return?
The return of the Defenders?
As it stands, nothing has leaked, except for rumors and theories on the Internet, born from the statements of Brad Winderbaum, who admitted to thinking of a way to introduce the other Defenders – the group of New York superheroes made up of Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and led by Daredevil – into the MCU. With Marvel Television's director wanting to rehabilitate these characters – without necessarily giving them a dedicated series each time – following the events of Daredevil Born Again would be an excellent way to do so.
If the Task Force intends to take on the vigilantes, it will need heroes to oppose them and... more broadly, heroes to "hunt". If Daredevil and the Punisher will be at the forefront, and a character like Swordman – already present in season 1 – should also resurface, seeing other characters linked to Matt Murdock would make sense. In the same vein, we can imagine that the character of Echo, closely linked to Wilson Fisk, could also be invited to the debate. If these ideas could be exploited by Marvel Studios, there is no guarantee that they will definitely arrive on our screens in a year.
Bullseye still in the game, more important for Buck?
Here again, the set photos have spoken and we know that Bullseye will still be involved in season 2 of Daredevil Born Again. The opposite would have been surprising. And given their shared goal—to destroy Fisk—we can even imagine the Shooter and Daredevil coming to... momentarily fight side by side, which would be a nice twist. However, we hope other villains will also join the table. It may be with this in mind that Matthew Lillard (Scream) was officially hired for season 2.
Speaking of villains... His presence alongside Fisk is far from insignificant and comic book fans must have flinched when they heard his name for the first time. The mayor's right-hand man, Buck, is none other than Buck Cashman, aka Bullet, an extremely formidable and dangerous American government spy in the comics.
In Daredevil Born Again, Buck acts as a loyal employee of Fisk, who mentions in episode 7 having rescued him from "his old life". His way of working in the shadows to help his boss – like the late Wesley in season 1 of Daredevil – and having eliminated Luca make him a character with great potential. It remains to be seen whether Buck can once again don the Bullet mantle. And if so, why.
The Daniel Blake Enigma
Another enigmatic character until the end of this first season, Daniel Blake is promoted to Fisk's communications team. Nothing transpires from the character except a boundless devotion to the mayor. But is this one real? A theory circulating on the web suggests a possible family connection between Daniel Blake and... one of the corrupt police officers in Fisk's pay in season 1 of Daredevil, killed for giving information about his boss. Another still imagines Daniel Blake as the son, this time of Fisk himself, an illegitimate child previously hidden from the Kingpin. Failing to lean towards one or the other of the theories, it would be good to develop a little the character's real motivations.
Let's be crazy, Muse is back?
Come on, to finish, a little madness. Quickly dispatched in season 1 of Daredevil Born Again, Muse, her actions and her death will have significant repercussions on the rest of the show, directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead told us. And some see it as a possible form of resurrection for an intriguing character whose real impact is still difficult to measure at the end of the first season.
After all, Muse is supposed to have superpowers, which isn't the case in the series, which would be a first step in the fight against survival. Second, in the comics, the character is indeed killed and manages to haunt another unbalanced artist. A photo from the set – again – showing the caption “Stunt Muse / Cascadeur Muse” also fueled this idea of a return. But perhaps Muse, like Foggy, will ultimately only reappear in the form of flashbacks. The definitive answer will come in… a year. Until then, theories will no doubt flourish here and there on the Web. And we, if they have substance, will certainly follow them.
0 Comments